Optimization of spatial structure designs of control rod using Monte Carlo code RMC

Abstract

Control rod is the most important approach to control reactivity in reactors, which is currently a cluster of pins filled with boron carbide (B₄C). In this case, neutrons are captured in the outer region, and thus the inner absorber is inefficient. Moreover, the lifetime of the control rod is challenged due to the high reactivity worth loss resulted from the excessive degradation of B₄C in the high flux area. In this work, some control rod designs are proposed with optimized spatial structures including the spatially mixed rod, radially moderated rod, and composite control rod with small-sized pins. The control rod worth and effective absorption cross section of these designs are computed using the Monte Carlo code RMC. A long-time depletion calculation is conducted to evaluate their burnup stability. For the spatially mixed rod, rare-earth absorbers are combined with B₄C in spatial structure. Compared with the homogenous B₄C rod, mixed designs ensure more sufficient reactivity worth in the lifetime of the reactor. The minimum reactivity loss at the end of the cycle is only 1.8% from the dysprosium titanate rod, while the loss for pure B₄C rod is nearly 12%. For the radially moderated design, a doubled neutronic efficiency is achieved when the volume ratio of moderator equals approximately 0.3, while excessive moderating may lead to the failure of control rods. The control rod with small-sized pins processes an enhanced safety performance and saves the investment in absorbers. The rod worth can be further enhanced by introducing small moderator pins, and the reactivity loss caused by the reduction of absorbers is sustainable.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

control rod / optimized spatial structure / neutronic performance / burnup stability

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Key R&D Project (Grant No. 2020YFB1901700), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11775127).

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2021 Higher Education Press